Description

james suckling

This is such a beautifully nuanced red with tobacco, dried herbs, wet earth and currants. Some leather and rose petals, too. Full-bodied and chewy, yet refined with great polish. It’s rich and intense at the same time. Very focused center palate. Broad layers of tannin and fruit. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 19% carmenere, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Better after 2024, but already a joy to taste.

robert parker's wine advocate

My last Chile article questioned whether 2018 had been the best vintage of the last 20 years in the country, so I was very curious to taste the 2018 Almaviva. 2018 was a cooler year with more rain and a later budding and ripening of the grapes, especially in a cooler terroir close to the Andes, as is the case with Almaviva. The harvest was slow, as temperatures went down, further increasing the balance between freshness and ripeness of the grapes. The varietal breakdown is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Carmenère (from Peumo), 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The grapes ripened thoroughly, as the 14.9% alcohol of the final blend shows, a little higher than previous years and with similar readings of acidity. The wine feels quite complete and nicely crafted; they use all of their resources and technology to select the perfect grapes that ferment pristinely destemmed and crushed in stainless steel tanks at 25 to 28 degrees Celsius, mostly with selected yeasts. Malolactic was part in barrique and part in tank during the alcoholic fermentation. It matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, 73% of them new and the remaining 27% second use. It's a solid, well-built and seamless Almaviva, with clout and balance. 2018 was a more homogeneous vintage, globally considered one of the best in recent times in Chile. They identify a great vintage when they see more homogeneous quality in their different wines, and winemaker Michel Friou explained that this year some wines from three- or four-year-old vines were really good. It feels like a very complete wine, from a year when the seasons were marked and when the plant followed the development with almost textbook conditions—the grapes ripened thoroughly, developing more flavors and nuances while keeping the freshness. This is still a baby, extremely young and creamy, but it is still approachable; there are no edges, but what's remarkable is the balance and stuffing and all the necessary ingredients for a great development in bottle. This is quite different from 2016; it's a vintage with power and clout, a wine that has fruit and intensity and is balanced, without the concentration and tannins of the 2017. It’s a more complete year that combines the finesse of 2016 with more thorough ripeness. The spicy and peppery character comes through with some time in the glass.

decanter

Confident complexity on display here, fresh, powerful spicy notes of tobacco and grilled coffee beans alongside cool blueberry fruits. Winemaker Michel Friou has made a brilliant wine in this vintage that expands outwards through the palate. 100% new oak. Blend completed with 3% Petit Verdot.

tasting panel

This label is a partnership between the Rothschild family and Concha y Toro. Softly aromatic nose, lush garnet color, and a velvety texture, with crisp acidity and a complex blend of flavors defined by plum, spice, and herbs. A splendidBordeaux-style red blend—equal parts rich, deep, and delicious.

wilfred wong of wine.com

The 2018 ALMAVIVA Red is wine on another level and should effortlessly age two decades or more. It is impressive from start to finish. This wine brings aromas and flavors of ripe fruit, savory spices, dried herbs, and "terra firma" from and center. All of the wine's elements (fruit, earth, barrel) intertwine into unmatched elegance. As I tasted it, I realized that none of its components could stand alone and that this wine must be experienced as one complete entity. Give this wine time in the cellar, and you will understand why great wines need to age. (Tasted: February 13, 2021, San Francisco, CA)

wine & spirits

A joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro, Almaviva is centered on a prime piece of real estate above the north bank of the Maipo River. The 2018 blends cabernet sauvignon (72 percent) and carmenère (19 percent); the balance is cabernet franc and petit verdot. Aged 18 months in new French oak barrels, this wine has the refinement of great Maipo Valley cabernet, providing plump depths of blackcurrant flavor without excess weight. Suited to long aging

wine spectator

Elegant and rich-tasting, offering roasted berry and cherry compote flavors that show plenty of dried herbal accents. The finish offers firm tannins, with a savory edge and hints of mocha java. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

vivino